# Forgot to refrigerate Mirin for two days. Can use? Need answer fast **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 3, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909 "2012-12-03T22:27:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/1 "2012-12-03T22:27:55Z")
I used this mirin two days ago, then absentmindedly put it in the pantry instead of the fridge. Can I still use it? It smells bad–but mirin always smells bad. Will a taste test suffice or should I throw it out? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/2 "2012-12-03T23:00:27Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I used this mirin two days ago, then absentmindedly put it in the pantry instead of the fridge. Can I still use it? > > It smells bad–but mirin always smells bad. Will a taste test suffice or should I throw it out? Seems like you should be able to. Taste test should tell you. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/3 "2012-12-03T23:04:43Z")
I’ve never refrigerated mirin, and am evidently still alive. Take that as you will. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/4 "2012-12-03T23:12:39Z")
Cool, I used it and we are all still alive. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/5 "2012-12-04T01:51:41Z")
As is Helen Mirren, though she is still griping about spending two days in your pantry. But she liked the sake. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/6 "2012-12-04T01:56:22Z")
What the hell is mirin? ::Wanders off to Googleland:: ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/7 "2012-12-04T02:22:50Z")
Take a pirin tablet, and don’t worry about it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/8 "2012-12-05T16:34:37Z")
I’d never heard of it either: [Mirin - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirin) Ignorance fought! ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/9 "2012-12-05T16:43:31Z")
Isn’t it a type of wine? Why would you need to refrigerate it? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/10 "2012-12-05T20:23:55Z")
I never refrigerate it. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/11 "2012-12-05T20:59:32Z")
I don’t refrigerate soy sauce, either, for all that both mirin and soy sauce tell you to refrigerate after opening. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/12 "2012-12-05T21:04:14Z")
I don’t refrigerate it. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/13 "2012-12-05T21:30:51Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > I don’t refrigerate soy sauce, either, for all that both mirin and soy sauce tell you to refrigerate after opening. Me neither, on both counts. ETA: anything with that high a hooch content is fine sitting out, esp. just for a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/14 "2012-12-06T03:43:48Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Me neither, on both counts. > > ETA: anything with that high a hooch content is fine sitting out, esp. just for a couple of days. Neither do I - nor fish sauce, oyster sauce or kepcap manis. I do refrigerate tomato sauce, mustard and jam, as well as maple syrup which I discovered goes mouldy if left in the cupboard. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/15 "2012-12-06T03:46:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’ve never refrigerated mirin, and am evidently still alive. Take that as you will. Agreed, we leave it on the shelf. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/16 "2012-12-06T04:52:03Z")
It never occurred to me about putting it in the fridge. Does it say to refrigerate on the label? I must have missed it and I usually look for that. Well, several bottles and years later, I’m still around. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/17 "2012-12-06T05:21:23Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > Isn’t it a type of wine? Why would you need to refrigerate it? True mirin is indeed alcoholic (between 13% and 15%). However, much of the stuff sold as mirin is in fact non-alcoholic “mirin-style condiment”. Kikkoman’s Japanese site recommends keeping true (alcoholic) mirin at room temperature and fake mirin in the fridge. Sugars in true mirin may crystallise if kept in the fridge, while fake mirin will lose its flavour if not kept cold after opening. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/18 "2012-12-06T05:35:03Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Take a pirin tablet, and don’t worry about it. 😉 Why the hell are you giving him drugs, what the hell are pirin tablets? ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forgot-to-refrigerate-mirin-for-two-days-can-use-need-answer-fast/642909/19 "2012-12-06T16:52:33Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > Neither do I - nor fish sauce, oyster sauce or kepcap manis. I do refrigerate tomato sauce, mustard and jam, as well as maple syrup which I discovered goes mouldy if left in the cupboard. You’re obviously not eating enough pancakes. 😃